its also worth noting that this is the opinion of one journalism student... not actually a "study" ... and even that interpretation seems to be off the mark of the content in the article itself

Greg Perreault, a doctoral student in the University of Missouri School of Journalism, found that the many newer-generation video games equate religion with violence in the game narratives.“It doesn’t appear that game developers are trying to purposefully bash organized religion in these games,” Perreault said. “I believe they are only using religion to create stimulating plot points in their story lines. If you look at video games across the board, most of them involve violence in some fashion because violence is conflict and conflict is exciting. Religion appears to get tied in with violence because that makes for a compelling narrative.”

Perreault presented his findings at the Center for Media Religion and Culture Conference on Digital Religion.

What a crappy study. Basing conclusions on a sample size of five. Nice. That being said, just a few thoughts:

1. There have been many bloodthirsty religious wars throughout history: The Crusades, The Thirty Years War, various Israeli-Arab wars, etc. Even wars that are not primarily religious often have a strong religious component, such as the Spanish conquest of the New World and the Cold War. That religion could be portrayed as a motivation for military endeavors in a game is hardly far-fetched or selectively calling religion out.

2. Violence has also been perpetrated in the name of religion: the Inquisition, religious-based terrorism, Sunni-Shia violence, etc. To see it in-game merely reflects real life.

3. Of the games mentioned, I've only played Oblivion, but religion was well balanced in that game I felt. The emperor you are trying to restore to the throne is a monk. The churches are places to get healed, cured of vampirism, and purchase healing items. Yes, there was ritual sacrifice and gates to Oblivion (Hell) opening up, but both sides were well represented: good and evil.

4. At the end of the day, games are Fantasy. Japanese games often have a strong Christian element, despite there being few Christians there b/c it serves as a backdrop with known associations the player can latch onto: the cross, devils, angels, possession, exorcism, Gothic architecture, etc. In other words, it's a popular fantastical setting. Just because there are enemies with a religious motivation that oppose the player, doesn't mean the player will read into that. Women (and men) in Hollywood movies are often portrayed as having sex at the drop of a hat, but that doesn't mean that people who view such movies think that American women are sex-crazed fiends. Oh, wait...